Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-15
NELLIE GRANTS HOME.
The Splendid Mansion in Which She
Lives in England.
Enlbarking in Front of Her Lawn fol
Visit to America.
A Talk With Her About Her Residence
in England-Her Children.

A letter to the New York World from
Frank Burr says: Southampton, Eng
land, August 49, Hardly cannons
shot from this dull English seaport Mrs.
Alsernon Sartoris Nellie Grant, lives.
On the opposite side of the river from
the struggling outlines of this old town
she has charming summer home. It is
delightful place not only for its mis-
tress and master, but for its com plexien
and associations. 1t is filled with cur
Ious relics of the past and interesting
views of the present. Good taste and the
evidences of culture and refinement are
everywhere.
This afternoon, as the Dutch steamer
from Bremen drew into tho waters of the
Handle, which wash the acres of this
striking abode, Mrs. Sartoris put out in
a rowboat to board it. She was accom-
panied by the elder Sartoris, who bade her
an affectionate farewell as she reached
the deck of the ship. Here was an en-
barkation at ones own door, and it was
the beginning of Nellie Grants first trip
to America in two years. She says she
will return before the severe weather of
the late fall sets in, but the charms of her
native land may possibly be sufficient to
keep her longer. Vivian, her eldest
She is beautiful girl, the image Of her
mother as she can be recalled when she
first entered the White House when her
father became President. Algernon, her
eldest son, is now boy of 10 years old;
the little girl who goes with her to Ameri-
ca is 8, and Rosa, the youngest, is 6. An
interesting group this mother and
children make.
ITS STATELY SURROUNDINGS.
Mr.. Sartoris, the elder, is very fond of
mis- daughter in-law and smooShs her
path with much tenderness. When Nellie
as every one calls hers home there
is a delightful circle in this old mansion.
Yet Nellie Grants place on the South
ampton waters is not a palace or great
house like Blenheim or Badminton, but
it is home full of restfulness and crown
ed with beauty. The house stands hard
by the splendid country road which fol-
lows the banks of the river, and the
acres which surround it are washed by
the-waters of the Handle river, which
gives Southampton its harbor. To the
right and left of it all is beauty and
grandeur. Both sea and land are dotted
with interesting objects recalling the
dingy past and typifying the alert pres
ent. Great castles with their lovely
grounds and wondrous histories arc on
hand. Across the waters of the Solent is
Osbourne House, the Queens summer
palace with it's broad park, comfortable
shade and aristocratic surroundings.
NorS Castle adioins it with a mien and
withyradfttons that are beyond my de-
scriItive powers. To the right of Nellie
Crafts home Cowes can be seen, with its
harbor full of sailing vessels ana pleasure
crafts of all description.
THE MISTRESS OF TEE HOME.
Nellie Grant is the mistress of this
home now, for the elder Mrs. Sarturis is
dead. The master is the father of the
singular son who married this splendid
American girl, who so worthily bore a
great name. The husband having large
interests In Wales is rarely at home, and
the father devotes himself to the care of
his sons children and his wife's happi-
ness. The elder Sartoris is man of
culture and refinement, devoted to music,
painting and literature. He has means,
and not only surrounds himself with a
home air of art and refinement, but with
those who deal in the finer touches of ex-
istence. His daughter-in-law lives in an
atmosphere of the higher order. There
are rich paintings in the halls and on the
parlor walls, music of every description
is In the drawing rooms and books of the
rarest quality in the library. The farm
if ample, we'll laid out and cultivated.
The house is an old building, with two
centuries of history about it. The grounds
are beautifully laid out aud decorated.
There are acres and acres of lawn and
pasture and many more acres of flowers,
shrubbery and shade. Bowers of ever
green's are here aud there. Overlooking
the waters there is one where trailing
vines have been guided over an archway
of wire, and the climbing ivy has been
colored with q wealth of flowers, which
peep out cunningly from the dark green
leaves of the climbing plant. In the
centre of this beautiful resting place is
Venetian well, brought from the dreamy
country by the elder Sartoris, who has
been great traveller. From the depths
of this charming Importation cool water
is drawn by an ancient device reminding
one of the soid oaken bucket that hung
in the we'll" This is Nellie Grants mus
ing place, and it is a good point from
which to study the history and surround
ings of the place.
She can see and more upon English
life as it was and is, in its broadest
pAoSCs 1IOH buls pretty dEDuE WHERE bU0
we'll is. Beyond 1t is a long archway
leading all the way down to the waters
edge, ivy-cla and laughing with flowers.
like the Venetian bower.
In the river is a sailing yacht always at
her bidding and in which she sails when
ever inclination directs; skiffs and other
crafts are all about. Then there are
horses in the stables for driving and rid
ing and living here seems dream of
comfort.
HER THIRTEEN YEARS IN ENGLAND.
"All this is beautiful, but is aimless,"
said the mistress TO me speaking of the
wonderful sights and their romantic and
dramatic history. Sometimes [ hardly
know whether it is real or dream, it is
so different from anything in America:
yet have grown very fond of this de-
ightfu. country and these pleasant Gus
toms. It is thirteen years since I came
to England to live, but time has passed
so swiftly that it does not seem so lone
Naturally think great deal about the
United States, for all my family are there
and no matter what changes one makes
in life thoughts of our native land will
freuuently crowd into our reflections Nv